Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
General material designation
- Textual record
- Graphic material
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
Level of description
Repository
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
1886 (Creation)
- Creator
- Pocock, Roger
Physical description area
Physical description
1 scrapbook ; ~42 leaves ; 23.0 x 18.5 cm
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Biographical history
Henry Roger Ashewell Pocock was born November 9, 1865 at Cookham, Berkshire, England. He came to Canada with his father in 1882, and settled in Brockville, Ontario. In 1882 and 1883, he attended the Guelph Agricultural College, and subsequently took a job as a surveyor for the Canadian Pacific Railway.
Pocock enlisted with the North-West Mounted Police at Fort Osborne in 1884. When the North-West Resistance broke out, Pocock marched with Colonel Irvine's relief force from Regina to Prince Albert in the winter weather, freezing his feet during the trek. As a result of the advanced frostbite to his feet, Pocock had to have several toes amputated, rendering him an invalid constable. He kept a diary/scrapbook for each year he was with the N.W.M.P., and later used the collections to write and publish a series of fictional books based on his experiences, the first successful of which was a biographical work titled "Following the Frontier" (N.Y., 1903) also published as "A Frontiersman" (London, 1903). According to Watters (A Check List of Canadian Literature, 1628-1950), Pocock published at least 15 titles between 1888 and 1931. In 1905, Pocock went on to found "The Legion of Frontiersmen of the Commonwealth." He died November 12, 1941.
Custodial history
Scope and content
Pocock's 1886 scrapbook contains handwritten entries (many dated), numerous tipped and pasted in original sketches and paintings, autograph letters, and clippings. A few pages have clippings pasted over diary entries.
It is bound in quarter brown leather and marbled boards, with paper label on the cover (labeled "1886" in picture-like font). A bookplate states "Be Traist" ("Be Faithful", the crest of the Innes Clan).
Scrapbook contains:
Diary entries of important events, which were either personally experienced by Pocock or gathered first-hand from those directly involved.
Sketches and watercolour paintings of people, NWMP personnel, and scenes of life in camps and forts.
Letters to his mother, father, and sisters.
Imprint cuttings of various barracks and forts located on the Canadian Prairies, prairie wildlife and scenery, events, cities and towns on the Canadian Prairies, Indigenous people, and scenes of ranching and hunting.
Handwritten entries of poetry and short stories, costs of goods, and pay rates of the different ranks within the NWMP.
Hand-drawn map of a section of the North Saskatchewan by Goshen (now Prince Albert), Saskatchewan.
Newspaper clippings related to the prairies and NWMP, and of anecdotes and jokes.
Notes area
Physical condition
Scrapbook is in poor condition ; Binding has come undone ; Front and back boards and the leaves are all loose ; Otherwise contents are in good condition as they are intact and well preserved
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
- English
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Associated materials
There are many items that were kept loose within the scrapbook. These items have been removed and arranged into separate folders. The descriptions of these items follow this record
Accruals
General note
Formerly accessioned as 2008.6.1.1.2